Curtain stretcher



July 11, 1939.

E. B. GARD CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed oct. 26, 19:58 s sheets-sheet 1 A tiomey July 1 1, 1939. E. B. GARD CURTAIN STRETCHER s. sheets-sheet s Filed Oct. 26, 1938 y Q y 26" wm Attorneys Patented July 11, 1939 RSSU BEC 2% i941.

UNETED STATES CURTAIN STRETCHER Emmett B. Gard, New Castle, Pa.

Application October 26,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a curtain stretcher, the general object of the invention being to provide means whereby the curtain can be easily and quickly attached to the stretcher frame by passing a member along the parts of the frame and over edges of the curtain .and cause the holding means to engage the curtain and to so construct and arrange the holding means that the operator cannot be injured thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the frame can be easily and quickly contracted to permit a shrunken curtain to be attached thereto, after which the frame is expanded to stretch the curtain. Y

Another object of the invention is to make the frame parts in sections with means whereby the sections can be easily and quickly connected together.

his invention also consists in certain other, features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, refer-Q` ence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein vlike characters denote like or corresponding parts thro-ughout the several views, andV in Which:-

Figure l is a front view of the invention. v

Figure 2 is .a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure '7.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the shuttle or sliding member for actuating the curtain holding means. l

Figure 9 is a plan view of the sliding member.

Figure 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 6.

Figure l1 is a perspective view of one of the plates for connecting one section of a horizontal member to the other section thereof.

Figure l2 is a View of the other plate for connecting the two sections together.

In these drawings, the numerals I and 2 indicate a pair of end members, each of which is formed with a longitudinally extending row 55 of holes 3 adjacent its inner edge and each mem- 1938, Serial No. 237,132

(Cl. L1:5--240 ber has a leg 4 hinged thereto as shown at 5, the leg being connected with the memberby a pair of links E pivotally connected together and pivoted to the leg and the member, these links acting to hold the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, when the links are straight and permitting the leg to be folded against the member by moving the links upwardly or downwardly. The upper and lower horizontal members are shown at 'l' and 8 and the lower member 8 has the projections 9 at its ends for engaging desired holes 3 in the members I and 2 so that this member 8 can be adjusted toward and away from the upper member l. 'I'he upper member l has the `plates I0 connected with its ends and each plate has the keyhole slots Il therein for engaging the headed projections i2 at the upper ends of the end members l and 2 for detachably connecting the member 'I to the end members I and 2. A diagonally arranged brace I3 has one end detachably connected to the end member I by the screw and thumb nut shown generally at I4 and a similar screw and thumb nut connects the other end of the brace I3 with the member 'I.

Each of the members 'I and 8 is formed of two sections having beveled inner ends as shown at I5 in Figure 1. An elongated plate I6, see Figure l1, is formed with a channel Il at one side edge thereof to be fastened to one section of each member and projects from the inner end of said section and at its free end is formed with an arcuate row of holes I8 and said plate intermediate its ends is also provided with a projection I9. A substantially angle plate 20, see Figure l2, is connected with the inner end of the other section of each member by suitable fastening means 2| passing through holes formed in the ilange 22 of said member 28 into the section. As will be seen from Figure 3 the ange 22 of member 2l! for the upper member l is fastened to the upper edge of one section of the member 'l while the member 28 for the section of the lower member 8 is fastened to the lower edge of said section. The major portion of the member 20 is free of the section to which it is connected so that this part can overlap the plate I6 and the free end of this part 20 has a hole 23 therein for engaging the projection I9 of plate I6. The plate 20 is slightly resilient so thata bent lip 24 can be forced over the projec-` tion I9 to engage the projection I9 in the hole 23. Thus the two sections of each of the members I and 8 are detachably connected together by the plates I6 and 2!) and they are pivotally connected together by means of the projection I9 of plate l5 fitting in the hole 23 of plate 20 and in order to hold the two sections of each member 'i and 8 in adjusted position I provide a latch member 25 on the plate 28 of spring metal which is fastened to the plate by the pins or rivets 2%, the lower one of which projects to engage any one of the holes I8. By pressing upon the bent endof the latch member the plate 2l) is swung outwardly so as to free the projecting part of the pin 26 from .a hole I 8 and then as soon as the latch is released the resiliency of the plate 2G will cause it to go back into its original position and thus cause the pinv 26 to engage another hole I8. As shown in Figure 3, the bent end of the upper latch member extends over a section of the upper member 1 while the bent end of the lower latch member extends under a section of the lower member 8 .and the channel il of plate I6 engages the lower edge of the section of the upper member 'I and the lower plate I6 engages an upper edge of the7 lower member 8.

Each of the members 2, 'l and 8 is formed with a thick outer part 2S and a narrow inner part 29, this part 29 forming a seat for an edge of the curtain C, as shown in Figure 10. The thickened part 28 is formed with a plurality of spaced slots Sil in its'front face and a strip 3l is attached to the front face and is formed with an outwardly extending flange 32 of channel-shape. A substantially U-shaped spring member 33 is located in each slot and has an end of one limb bent and extending into the channel and is suitably secured therein. The other limb has its end bent and pointed to provide a pin 3d which normally engages a hole 35 formed in the narrower part 29, one of these holes being located adjacent each slot and when the curtain is in place these pins 3L! will pass through an edge portion thereof and enter the holes 35 so that the curtain is firmly attached to the member and as the pin point is located in the hole there is no danger of the operator being injured by these pins.

Another row of holes 36 is formed in the part 29 of each of the upper and lower members 'l and 8 and these holes 3B alternate with the holes 35 as clearly shown in Figures 6 and the holes 3 in member 2 alternate with the holes 35 of said member 2 as shown in Figure 3. An elongated member 3l', composed of two telescopic sections, asrshown in Figure l, has pins 38 at its ends for engaging selective ones of the holes, 36, this member being adapted to be passed through a hem in that end of the curtain opposite the end which is held by the members 33 of the end member 2. Thus this member 3l can be adjusted as to its length to suit the position the member 8 as relative to the'member 'l and it can also be adjusted toward and away from the member 2 to suit the length of the curtain being stretched.

A shuttle or sliding member A `is provided for moving the members 33 to releasing position as shown in Figure 10 and this sliding member includes a body 31 formed with a handle part 38 and having a groove 39 therein for receiving the flange 32 of the strip 3i and said body being formed with a longitudinally extending centrally arranged flange 4G the tree edge of which diverges from the center as shown in Figure '7. This ange engages the inner edge of part 23. A plate M is fastened to the body -and extends parallel to and is spaced from the ilange 43 and the center part of the plate 4I carries a lateral lug 42 flange il the inner edge of the plate 43 having its inner edge shaped to conform to the free edge of the iiange GS and the two edges form a groove for the passage of those limbs of the U-shaped members 33 which carry the pins 34. The ends of the plate 43 form points d3', see Figure 9, and each point passes between the pin carrying limbs of the members 33 and an edge of the curtain so that these limbs of the members 33 are pressed outwardly to permit the curtain to assume the position shown in Figure l() and then as the sliding member is moved along said limbs `return to the normal position with the pins 34 passing through the curtain into the holes 35. A groove 45 is formed in the part 29 of each of the members 2, 'l and 3 and the straight edge of plate 43 slides in this groove, the pin carrying limb of the U-shaped member 33 extending across the groove when the member 33 is in normal position.

A presser plate 136 is slidably arranged on the plate el -by having its ends bent over the ends of the plate il as shown at 4l. This plate l5 has a slot i8 therein through which extends a spring member i9 which also passes through a slot 5S of angle shape in the plate fil and is fastened in a recess 5| in the body 3l. 'I'his spring member when in the horizontal part of the slot 5@ will hold the plate 46 in raised position, as shown in Figure 9, but when in theV vertical part of the slot the spring member will hold the plate lli in lowered position, with respect to Figure 9 and yieldingly engaging the curtain and pressing the same against the part 29, as shown in Figure l0. The ends of the plate G6 are rounded or beveled so that it can ride over the curtain. A spring iinger 52 is carried by the upper end of the member 2 for engaging and holding a corner of a curtain at the beginning of the operation of attaching the curtain to the parts of the frame, this iinger being shown in Figure l.

By constructing the device in the manner described it will occupy but little space when knocked down and in setting up the device the two sections of each of the members 'E and 8 are connected together by placing the beveled ends I5 of the two sections adjacent each other, with the plate IB underlapping the plate 2@ and presse ing the lip 24 against the projection l to cause the projection to enter the hole 23. Then the two sections are moved into alignment with each other while depressing the bent end of the latch member 25 and then by releasing this latch member the two sections are locked together. Then the end plates IU have their holes i i placed over the projections l2 to connect the upper member l with the end members l and 2 and, of course, the legs 4 are moved rearwardly and held in this position by the links being straightened. 'Ihe projections 9 of the lower member 3 are placed in suitable ones lof the holes C5.

One corner of the curtain to be stretched is placed under the inger 52 and the upper edge of the curtain is held against the front face of the part 29 oi the member l' and then the slide memberrA is moved along the member l andas this sliding member A is so moved the plate 46, which is in the position shown in Figure 10, presses the curtain against the part 29 and the plate 43 moves the limbs which carry the pins 35 outwardly so that the plate l can position the upper edge of the curtain over the holes 35 and then as the member A passes the U-shaped members the pinl carrying limbs move back to their original positions to cause the pins to penetrate the curtain and enter the Vholes 35.- Themember A is moved off the left hand endof the member 8, the end member I beingof Isuch thickness as to permit the member -A to be placed in engagement or out of engagement-*with either one of the members 'l and 8 andthe thickened parts 28 l of the members 1 and arespaced from Vthe thickened part of member 2 to permit the member A to be placed in engagement vor out of engagement with the member 2. Then the member A is moved over the member 2 toconnect one end of the curtain with saidY memberV 2. The member 31 is passedthrough 'a hem at the leit end of the curtain after the sliding member is placed on' the *memberv Sand then the pins 38 `ci the member 31 are placed in suitable holes inthe members 7 and 8. Then the sliding member' is used for connecting the pins of member 13 to the lower edge of the curtainand if desired or necessary either one or Vboth of the members?! and 8 can be moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure l'to facilitate attaching the curtain to these parts or in stretching shrunken curtains;

It will, of course, be understood that the parts are marked with'graduations to vfacilitate placing the parts in the desiredposition to stretch the curtains to the desired extent and'it will also be understood that after the'sliding member has been moved in one direction to connect the curtain with one of the members of the frame, it can 'be moved in a reverse direction to remove it from said member, without releasing the curtain as the curtain will not be released Aby the pin members unless a slight pullis exerted on the curtain as the sliding member releases the pin members to pull the curtain fromY under the pin members before they return to their holding positions. It will also be seen that while the pin carrying limbs of the U-shaped members will tend to return to normal position and cause the pins to penetrate the material of the curtains4 said limbs are forced through the material vand into the holes by the free edge of the flange lil so that there is no danger of the pin notpenetrating the curtain.

When the sliding member is being moved in a reverse direction after it-has been moved in a direction to attach the curtain to a frame member the pressure plate is lifted or moved into' inoperated position by placing the spring member 49 in the longitudinally extending part of the slot 50 in plate 4|. Y

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated member having a longitudinally extending seat forming part for an article to be attached to the member and said seat forming part having a row of holes therein, spring members carried by the elongated member and having penetrating parts passing into the holes and a slide member having a part for pressing the article on the seat forming portion and another part for first moving the penetrating members out of the holes and then returning the penetrating members to normal position to cause them to pass through the article back into the holes.

2. In a device of the class described, an elon-A gated member having a seat forming part for an article to be attached to the elongated member and said seat forming part having a row of holesv therein, a plurality of substantially U-shaped spring members carried by the elongated member and each having a penetrating part at the end of one limb thereof normally engaging a hole and afslide member having a part for en.-

gagingrthe said limbs of the U-sh'aped members vfor `moving the penetrating parts out of the holes and then permitting the penetrating parts to re* turn to normal position to-pass through the article when moved back into the holes.

3. In a device ofthe class described, an elongated member having a-seat formingpart for an article-to Vloe-attached thereto, said part having a row of holes therein, substantially U-shaped spring members each having one limb connected to the elongated member and the other limb having a bent penetrating point thereon for entering a hole, longitudinally extending guiding means on the elongated member, a sliding member engaging the guiding means, a plate carried by the sliding member and Vhaving one straight edge and its other edge diverging from a central point to the ends of the plate, said plate engaging the point carrying limbs of the spring members for rstforcing said limbs outwardly from the seat forming part and then permitting the limbs to return to normal position to penetrate an article on the seat forming part.

4. In a device of the class described, an elongated member having a seat forming part for an article to be attached thereto, said part having lof.7

a row of holes therein, substantially U-shaped spring members each having one limb connected to the elongated member and the other limbhaving a bent penetrating point thereon for entering a hole, longitudinally extendingguiding means on the elongated member, a sliding member engaging the guiding means, a plate carried by the sliding member and having one straight edge and its other edge diverging from a central point to the ends of the plate, said plate engaging the point carrying limbs of the spring members for first forcing said limbs outwardly from, the seat forming part and then permitting the limbs to return to normal position to penetrate an article on the seat forming part, and an adjustable presser plate carried by the sliding member for pressing an article against the seat forming part;

5. In adevice of the class described, an elongated member having a seat forming part for an article to be attached thereto, said part having a row of holes therein, substantially U-shaped spring members each having one limb connected to the elongated member and the other limb having a bent penetrating point thereon for entering a hole, longitudinally extending guiding means on the elongated member, a sliding member engaging the guiding means, a plate carried by the sliding member and having one straight edge and its other edge diverging from a central point to the ends of the plate, said plate engaging the point carrying limbs of the spring members for rst forcing said limbs outwardly from the seat forming part and then permitting the limbs to return to normal position to penetrate an article on the seat forming part, and an adjustable presser plate carried by the sliding member for pressing an article against the seat forming part, and a flange carried by the sliding member and having an edge of the same shape as the operative edge of the plate and forming a groove with said edge of the plate.

6. In a device of the class described, an elongated member having a thickened part and a reduced Aseat forming part for an article to be attached to the elongated member, said seat forming part having a row of holes therein and a plurality of slots in the thickened part, spring by each of said side and end members and hav- L15-ing points for entering the holes, each member a point normally located in a hole and a member adapted to be moved along the elongated member and having a Wedge-shaped part terminating in a point for forcing the points of the spring members out of the holes and then permitting the spring members to return to normal position to cause the points to penetrate the article and then pass into the holes.

'7. A curtain stretching device of the class described comprising a pair of end members and a pair of side members, each side member and one end member having a seat forming part at its inner edge for an edge portion of a curtain and said seat forming part having a row of holes therein, a plurality of spring members carried ing points for entering the holes, each member having a plurality of openings for receiving the spring members, a sliding member adapted to be moved over each of the side members and said end member, said sliding member having a longitudinally arranged substantially nat U-shaped groove therein, one Wall of which terminates in a point at each end of the sliding member for guiding the point carrying parts of the spring members into the groove which moves the points out of the holes'and then returns the spring members to normal position with the points passing through the curtain and into the holes, a spring actuated presser member carried by the sliding member for pressing an edge portion of the curtain against the seat forming part and a member for engaging the ends of the curtain opposite that which is held to the said one end member and means for adjusting said curtain engaging member on the side members and said member being telescopic.'

8. A curtain stretching device of the class described comprising a pair of end members and a pair of side members, each side member and one end member having a seat forming part at its inner edge for an edge portion of a curtain and said seat forming part having Ya row of holes therein, a plurality of spring members carried by each of said side and end members and havhaving a plurality of openings for receiving the spring members, a sliding member adapted to be moved over each of the side members and said end member, said sliding member having a longitudinally arranged substantially iiat U-shaped groove therein, one Wall of which terminates in a point at each end of the sliding member for guiding the point carrying parts of the spring members into the groove which moves the points out of the hole and then returns the spring members to normal position with the points passing through the curtain and into the hole, a spring actuated presser member carried by the sliding member for pressing an edge portion of the curtain against the seat forming part and a member for engaging the ends of the curtain opposite scribed comprising a pair of end members and a pair of side members, each side member and one end member having a seat forming part at its inner edge for an edge portion of a curtain and said seat forming part having a row of holes therein, a plurality of spring members carried by each of said side and end membersand having points for entering the holes, each member having a plurality of openings for receiving the spring members, a sliding member adapted to be moved over each of the side members and said end member, said sliding member having a longitudinally arranged substantially flat U-shaped groove therein, one Wall of which terminates in a point at each end of the sliding member for guiding the point carrying parts of the spring members into the groove which moves the points out of the hole and then returns the spring members to normal position with the points passing through thecurtain and into the hole, a spring actuated presser member carried by the sliding member for pressing an edge portion of the curtain against the seat forming part and a member for engaging the ends of the curtain opposite that which is held to the said one end member and means for adjusting said curtain engaging member on the side members and said member being telescopic, each side member being formed of two sections pivotally connected together and 

